Five more breakout players of the spring

After yesterday’s post on the top five breakout players of the spring, a few readers chimed in with thoughts of some others who they thought deserved some recognition.

With that in mind, here are five other players who made some moves this spring:

RB Dwayne Washington — Washington was switched from running back to receiver prior to the Las Vegas Bowl practices, and used the spring to continue to make it look like a good move. He showed enough to emerge as a solid backup to Bishop Sankey and a player who figures to get on the field at least situationally in 2013.

DT Connor Cree — A redshirt sophomore, Cree emerged as a regular with the starting unit this spring, having bulked up some and moved inside from end to primarily a tackle spot. There will be a lot of bodies used on the line this year, and Cree did enough in the spring to show he should be one who gets on the field in the fall.

QB Cyler Miles — While coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t want to say it, it was obvious that Miles, a redshirt freshman quarterback from Denver, had emerged as the clear backup to Keith Price during the spring. One reason Sarkisian is reluctant to say it is there is no need to declare that now, and things could change in the fall, when Jeff Lindquist or Troy Williams might feel that much more comfortable in the offense and make a big move. But for now, it seems clear Miles is the backup heading into the fall.

CB Gregory Ducre — A senior and former starter may not really be the definition of a player who could break out. But Ducre was an early standout in the spring and appeared to take a pretty good stranglehold on the cornerback spot left vacated by Desmond Trufant. That could change in the fall, as well, when younger players like Travell Dixon or Cleveland Wallace are that much more comfortable in things, and some of the true frosh arrive. But Ducre appeared an improved player this spring.

WR Antavius Sims — The once highly-heralded JC transfer has been invisible his first two years at UW. And he spent the spring still working with the reserves at receiver. But he caught two touchdown passes in the spring game, and had five catches for 53 yards overall, for the most notable contribution of his UW career. And maybe that will be a springboard to him finally making a meaningful mark on the team in the fall.